Archery device

ABSTRACT

An archery device comprising a bowstring draw and trigger release mechanism wherein a trigger releasably retains a sear that actuates a release lever, the latter being used for releasing the bowstring loop incorporated in the device. In a preferred form of the invention the sear is provided with a roller or wheel that engages the engaged extremity of the release lever. Structure is provided for adjusting sear pressure relative to the shoulder of the notch provided the trigger; additionally, a locking screw is provided for adjusting the overlap of the sear surface with said shoulder. The finger grip employed posterior of the trigger is made adjustable for convenience of use by the operator.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to archery devices and, more particularly,to a new and improved bowstring draw and trigger release device usefulin releasing a bowstring whereby the bowstring will immediately propelthe arrow to an intended target.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART

In the past a number of different types of bowstring release mechanismshave been devised and are found represented in certain prior art asfollows:

U.S. Pat. No. 1,469,610

U.S. Pat. No. 1,855,547

U.S. Pat. No. 2,842,114

U.S. Pat. No. 3,224,427

U.S. Pat. No. 3,490,429

U.S. Pat. No. 3,538,901

U.S. Pat. No. 3,929,120

U.S. Pat. No. 4,004,564

U.S. Pat. No. 4,009,703

U.S. Pat. No. 4,036,204

U.S. Pat. No. 4,083,348

U.S. Pat. No. 4,156,417.

All of the above patents are relevant the subject matter of the presentinvention and its context wherein some type of mechanism is made usefulfor firing purposes as for example, by the release of a bowstring loopthat temporarily draws back the bowstring of an archery bow preparatoryto propelling an arrow carried by the bowstring. The present inventiondiffers from and is an improvement over the above patent disclosures inthat a very simple lever mechanism in the form of an elongate sear and arelease lever are useful in selectively retaining and then releasing thebowstring loop that is temporarily looped around the bowstring of anarchery bow as the bowstring is drawn back in preparation for release.Particularly, both the overlap of sear engagement with the sear and alsopositionment of the trigger relative to the sear are made adjustable sothat both the requisite trigger pressure required for sear release andalso the length of travel of such trigger for sear release are madeindependently adjustable. Preferably, the sear employs a roller or wheelas forward end which engages the engagement extremity of a pivotedrelease lever useful in restraining and also releasing the bowstringloop employed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

In the invention a housing includes, rearwardly attached thereto, thehand loop in the form of a chord that is looped over the back of thehand or wrist of the user. A finger grip or rest is made independentlyadjustable for comfort of the user's hand. Forwardly of the finger restor finger grip there is provided a pivoted trigger that is spring biasedand also provided with adjustment screw means, engagable with the searemployed, for adjusting shoulder overlap of the sear notch of thetrigger relative to the upward rearward surface of the sear itself. Thesear itself is spring biased by means of return spring and includes anadjustable pivot and also a forward end roller or wheel. The latterengages the lower engagement extremity portion of a pivoted releaselever, an upper part of which is provided to retain and also to releasea bowstring loop provided also the forward end of the mechanism housing.The release lever and sear are so designed, in a preferred form of theinvention, that the lower or engagement extremity of the release leverengages the wheel or roller of the sear at a point so as to precluderelease lever movement in the absence of sear release by the trigger,and yet to allow the release lever to pivot past the sear once thetrigger is appropriately depressed.

OBJECTS

Accordingly, a principal object of the present invention is to provide anew and improved archery device.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved bowstring draw and trigger release mechanism or device.

A further object is to provide in a bowstring draw and release mechanisma spring biased trigger and also a spring biased sear cooperating with arelease lever.

An additional object is to provide an improved bowstring draw andtrigger release device.

An additional object is to provide a bowstring draw and trigger releasedevice wherein both sear overlap as to the shoulder of the trigger andalso sear pressure can be made adjustable, either together oralternatively, and/or independently.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel areset forth with particularity in the appended claims. The presentinvention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, togetherwith further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood byreference to the following description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan of the invention in one embodiment thereof.

FIG. 2 is a view taken along the line 2--2 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view taken along the line 3--3 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section taken along the line 4--4 inFIG. 2.

FIG. 4A is an enlarged detail taken along the dotted line 4A in FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 is a view of the structure at FIG. 4 wherein finger pressure hasjust depressed the trigger sufficiently so as to release the sear andallow the release lever to pivot so as to tend to release the bowstringloop.

FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 5 but illustrates that when the trigger isreturned, the rearward extremity of the sear now rides upwardly of andbeyond the sear engagement notch of the trigger.

FIG. 6A is similar to FIG. 6 but illustrates the manner in which therelease lever can be returned to its initial position so that itsengagement extremity again appropriately engages the sear roller, thetrigger then being depressed for re-cocking.

FIG. 6B indicates a re-cocking of the device wherein the trigger ismomentarily depressed rearwardly and then allowed to advance forwardlyunder a spring pressure, whereby the rearward extremity of the sear isbrought again in engagement with the sear notch of the trigger.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In FIGS. 1-4A archery device 10, includes a housing 11 formed in themanner seen generally in FIG. 4 and having transverse apertures 12 and13 which receive the opposite ends 14 and 15 of hand loop 16. The handloop 16 may be made of a suitable plastic material such that the endsurfaces at 17 and 18 are heat enlarged to prevent end-withdrawal of thehand loop from the housing 11.

Housing 11 includes a part at 18 that receives the upper saddle 19 offinger grip 20. The saddle 19 includes a series of threaded apertures20-22 a respective one of which admits and threadedly receives thethreaded end 23 of locking screw 24. The threaded end, of course, willbe supplied, the downward extremity of shank 25, the latter passingthrough apertures 26 and 27. Accordingly, the finger grip 20 may beadjusted back and forth and then locked in place by the locking screw24, this for maximum comfort for the user's third through fifth fingers.

As in seen in FIG. 4, the housing 11 is a machined part having a hollowinterior at 28 terminating at its side in a slot 29. This interior endslot receives a sear 30 having a plurality of apertures 31 one of whichselectively accommodates a pivot pin 32'. Sear or sear means 30 likewiseincludes a pivot pin 33 pivoting roller 34 at the end of the sear asdisposed in recess 35. Return spring 36 is a compression spring which isseated in recesses 37 and 38 of housing 11 and sear 30, respectively.Trigger 39 is provided with an askew threaded aperture 40 accommodatingadjustment screw 41 and also locking screw 42. These screws are actuallyaligned as indicated and may comprise Allen screws. Seats 43 and 44accommodate the opposite ends of compression spring 45.

At the far end of the housing 11 is pivotally included a release lever46 mounted by pivot pin 47 to the housing and which retains the rearmostend 48 of bowstring loop 49. The latter has its ends 50 and 51 disposedwithin the interior area of the housing and positioned in wall apeatures52, one being shown, the same being disposed on opposite sides of thehousing. If desired, the ends may be likewise frayed or heat-enlargedfor securement of the loop in place. Also, a pair of set screws 53, oneof which is shown in FIG. 1, can be employed to further increase theretention of the bowstring loop 49 in position.

FIG. 4A illustrates that the roller or lever engages, above horizontalaxis H the external surface 54A of engagement or lower end projection 54of release lever 46. Accordingly, when the trigger 39 is disposedforwardly as seen in FIG. 4, the sear notch 55 of the trigger engagesrear extremity 56 of sear 30. It is noted that the pressure of thebowstring forwardly in the direction of arrow A produces a correspondingforce B at the top of release lever 46, thereby producing a pressure inthe direction of arrow C, see FIG. 4A, against roller 34. This latterpressure tends to force the rear extremity 56 of sear 30 upwardlyagainst sear notch 55.

In operation, see FIG. 5, when the trigger 39 is manually depressed bythe user's index finger, rear extremity 56 of sear 30 becomes disengagedfrom notch 55. Accordingly, the pressure against roller 34 abovehorizontal axis H, as exists at arrow C in FIG. 4A, forces the sear torotationally displace in a clockwise direction so as to permitengagement extremity 54 to proceed past the axis D joining the centersof pivot pin 47 and pivot pin 32, see again FIG. 4A, whereby theengagement extremity is allowed to ride upwardly relative to the upperroller surface and cam surface 58, thereby permitting the release lever46 to release bowstring loop 49, see FIGS. 5 and 6, whereupon thebowstring 60A is released for immediately propelling the arrow E shownin dotted lines in FIG. 5.

At this point, it should be noted that the rearward portion 56 of sear30 includes a rear upper surface 60 cooperating with shoulder 61 ofnotch 55. The chosen location and protrusion of adjustment screw 41relative to sear surface 62 will determine the overlap of sear surface56 relative to shoulder 61 and hence determines the amount of triggertravel required to release the sear from notch 55. This is of greatimportance to the user since some prefer instantaneous feather-touchrelease whereas other users prefer a slight movement, to appreciabledegree, of the trigger before the sear is released to accomplish thefiring of the arrow.

Also, the location of pivot pin 32, disposed in opposite housingapertures 32A-32C, see FIG. 1, determines how much trigger pressure isrequired to positively release the sear from its notch.

In continuing a consideration of the further operation of the device,reference is now made to FIGS. 6, 6A and 6B. In FIG. 6 the release lever46 has completely released bowstring loop 49 and the bowstring 60A haslong since left the bowstring so that the arrow is propelled asintended. It is noted that with the depression of trigger 39, surface 60is now not overlapped by shoulder 61 of notch 55; rather, the rearextremity 56 of the sear is engaging that portion of the trigger whichis above notch 55. The same condition exists when lever 46 is re-cocked,see FIG. 6A, with the bowstring loop 49 being disposed over the top 46Aof lever 46. However, the rear portion 56 of sear 30 is still notengaged with notch 55. The latter requires the depression, as seen inFIG. 6A, of trigger 39 so as to permit spring 36 to depress the rearmostpart of sear 30 such that, see FIG. 6B, portion 56 again comes inengagement with notch 55 such that surface 61 is overlapped by notchshoulder 61.

Accordingly, the device is first fired, then release lever 46 isre-cocked to the position shown in FIG. 6A, and finally, trigger 39 isdepressed so as to allow the sear to go from the position shown in FIG.6A to FIG. 6B whereby a complete re-cocking has been achieved.

Again, if all apertures pluralities are provided as at 31 relative tothe sear and 32A-32C relative to the housing, simply a single pivot pinat 32 is used for the chosen fulcrum or pivot point. The shorter thelever arm distance from pin 32 to extremity 56, the greater pressure thebowstring will exert as to the engagement of sear surface 60 withshoulder 61. If a pivot point is chosen for sear 30 such that the leverarm is longer relative to the selected aperture 31 and the rearwardextremity, then a progressively less pressure will be involved andtransmitted to the engaging surfaces 60 and 61. Accordingly, triggerpulled pressure to effect release can be varied by selection of a properpivot point relative to sear 30.

While a preferred embodiment has been shown, it will be noted that,conceivably, the roller 34 could be journalled to release lever 46instead of sear 30. The roller interengagement between sear and leverwould still be provided, reducing friction wear.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shownand described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art thatchanges and modifications may be made without departing from thisinvention in its broader aspects, and, therefore, the aim in theappended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fallwithin the true spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:
 1. An archery bowstring draw and release device including, incombination: a first member provided with a rearwardly disposed handloopand a forwardly disposed bowstring loop; release lever means pivoted tosaid first member proximate said bowstring loop, having a lower endprojection providing an exterior surface thereat, and constructed forreleasably retentively receiving said bowstring loop, spring-biased searmeans pivoted to said first member rearwardly of said release levermeans, said sear means being provided with a pivoted freely-revolvableroller selectively retentively rollingly engaging said exterior surfaceof said release lever means; and spring-biased trigger means separatefrom said sear means, pivoted to said first member rearwardly of saidsear means, and provided with a notch for selectively, retentively,receivably engaging said sear means, said trigger means being providedwith adjustment screw means engaging said sear means for predeterminingthe extent of engagement of said sear means with said trigger meansnotch, said release lever means being constructed for return thereof tococked position prior to recocking of said trigger means.
 2. An archerybowstring draw and release device including, in combination: a firstmember provided with a rearwardly disposed handloop and a forwardlydisposed bowstring loop; release lever means pivoted to said firstmember proximate said bowstring loop, having a lower end projectionproviding an exterior surface thereat, and constructed for releasablyretentively receiving said bowstring loop; spring-biased sear meanspivoted to said first member rearwardly of said released lever means,said sear means being provided with a pivoted freely-revolvable rollerselectively retentively rolling engaging said exterior surface of saidrelease lever means; and spring-biased trigger means pivoted to saidfirst member and provided with a notch for selectively, retentively,receivably engaging said sear means, said trigger means being providedwith adjustment screw means engaging said sear means for predeterminingthe extent of engagement of said sear means with said trigger meansnotch, said sear means having plural, individually selectable pivotmeans.
 3. The device of claim 2 wherein said first member is providedwith laterally outwardly extending finger grip means adjustably movableforwardly and rearwardly.
 4. The device of claim 1 wherein said firstmember comprises a housing.
 5. The device of claim 1 wherein saidtrigger means is provided with adjustable protuberance means forengaging said sear means whereby to preset the extent of trigger means,sear engagement.
 6. The device of claim 1 wherein said trigger meanscomprises a trigger having a sear-receiving notch in part defined by ashoulder releasably engaging said sear means.
 7. In an archery bowstringdraw and release device having a housing and a trigger, provided aforwardly-facing sear-receiving, concavely indented notch, pivoted tosaid housing: an improvement comprising a release element pivoted tosaid housing forwardly of said trigger and an elongate sear separatefrom said trigger and said release element, said sear also being pivotedto said housing between said trigger and said release element andextending rearwardly for selectively protruding into and therebyengaging said notch, and said sear being provided with a forwardlyextending, axially pivoted roller selectively rollably engaging saidrelease element, said sear being releasably retained by said triggerwithin said notch, said trigger being provided with an adjustment screwengaging said sear for predetermining the extent of sear-triggerengagement.
 8. In an archery bowstring draw and release device includinga trigger, a release element, and pivotable sear means interposedbetween said trigger and said release element for selectively releasingsaid release element: an improvement wherein said sear means is providedwith structure facilitating selectable placement of said sear means'pivot axis.
 9. In combination: a first, housing member; a trigger, asear disposed forwardly of and selectively retained by said trigger andhaving a roller end, and a release element disposed forwardly of andselectively engaged by said sear, said trigger, sear, and releaseelement being mutually cooperable together and respectively pivoted tosaid first, housing member, said trigger having a notch receiving saidsear and being provided with adjustment screw means engaging said searfor predetermining the extent of cocked-condition sear-triggerengagement at said notch; and roller means pivotally mounted to saidroller end of said sear and rollably engaging said release element forproducing roller-contact there-between whereby to effect selectivepivotal release of said release element upon depression of said trigger.10. An archery bowstring draw and release device, including, incombination: a housing; a release element having an accessable, flexibleelongate member retainer end, a remaining end, and pivot means pivotingsaid release element to said housing between said ends; a triggerpivoted to said housing rearwardly of said release element, said triggerhaving a sear-engagement-and-release portion; and a sear, physicallyspaced apart and separate from said trigger and said release element,having a rear portion selectively retentively engaging saidsear-engagement-and-release portion, and also having medial pivot meansmedially pivotally mounting said sear to said housing, said searincluding forward extremity roller means selectively engaging saidrelease element proximate said remaining end thereof for selectivelyretaining in cocked position, and also selectively releasing touncocked, flexible-elongate member release position, said releaseelement, whereby to permit said retainer end to move releasablyforwardly.
 11. In an archery bowstring draw and release device having ahousing and a trigger, provided a forwardly-facing sear-receiving,concavely indented notch, pivoted to said housing: an improvementcomprising a release element pivoted to said housing forwardly of saidtrigger and an elongate sear separate from said trigger and said releaseelement, said seal also being pivoted to said housing between saidtrigger and said release element and extending rearwardly forselectively protruding into and thereby engaging said notch, and saidsear being provided with a forwardly extending end selectively movablyengaging said release element, said sear being releasably retained bysaid trigger within said notch, said trigger being provided with anadjustment screw engaging said sear for predetermining the extent ofsear-trigger engagement.